“Bridging the Gap” Empowers Construction Sector Leaders

Written by: Arman D. Mangilinan, URA II, CIPC-UP SOLAIR

Date: October 20, 2025

October 8, 2025, Quezon City — The Center for Industry Productivity and Competitiveness (CIPC) of the University of the Philippines Diliman – School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP SOLAIR) successfully conducted the 3rd installment of its Learning Session Series titled “Bridging the Gap: Strategic Learning Needs Analysis for Effective Action Planning.”

Held at the Mini-Auditorium, 5th Floor, UP SOLAIR New Building, the onsite session gathered 24 participants from the construction and building sector, including HR practitioners, engineers, and company leaders from across the industry.

This event forms part of the Pahinungod program of CIPC and UP SOLAIR, the Center’s continuing commitment to public service through free, sector-focused learning sessions that promote productivity, competence, and inclusive development across industries.

A Session for Strategic Learning and Collaboration

The session was facilitated by Dr. Virgel C. Binghay, CIPC Director, Professor 12, and QA Officer of UP SOLAIR, a well-respected scholar, educator, and public servant. Dr. Binghay shared his expertise on the importance of strategic learning needs analysis (LNA) in identifying workforce skill gaps, aligning training with business goals, and developing effective action plans that drive organizational growth and performance.

To make the discussion more engaging, participants took part in a group dynamic workshop, where they analyzed case studies and presented their insights. This activity encouraged active participation, collaboration, and critical thinking, allowing attendees to apply LNA concepts to real workplace situations in the construction industry.

Participants also completed a post-test to assess their learning. Mr. Henderson Gonzales from Eternal Gardens Memorial Park achieved the highest score and was recognized with a token of appreciation. He also delivered a short reflection, sharing his key takeaways from the session and emphasizing how relevant the discussion was to professionals in the field.

Evaluation and Participant Feedback

The post-event evaluation reflected very positive feedback from participants, showing both appreciation and enthusiasm for the session. Using a 5-point rating scale, the results were as follows:

  • Program Design: 4.67
  • Resource Person (Dr. Virgel C. Binghay): 4.93
  • Learning Aids, Facilities, Host, and Technical Staff: 4.75

Total Average Rating: 4.78

Participants described the session as informative, engaging, and practical. Here are some of their comments:

“Looking forward to more opportunities like this. It’s good—and it’s free!” 
“The workshop was a great point of collaboration.” 
“Wala ako masabi kundi magaling po ang resource person.” 
“I am very grateful that he included a case study and allowed participants to have an activity.” 
“I really love how Dr. Binghay made the seminar interactive and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand.”

Through the CIPC Learning Session Series, UP SOLAIR continues to fulfill its Pahinungod mandate, sharing expertise and extending service to various industries through free professional learning opportunities. 

CIPC extends its gratitude to all participants from the construction and building sector for their active engagement and commitment to continuous learning. The Center looks forward to welcoming professionals from other industries in the next sessions of the CIPC Learning Session Series.